Rapist who carried out a series of violent attacks against a number of women jailed for 10 years

MARC McKillop has been put behind bars for 10 years after being found guilty of raping a woman and attacking another when she was breast feeding. The judge said he'd subjected his victims to "a storm of violence".

A SERIAL abuser who raped a woman and attacked another when she was breast feeding a baby was today jailed for 10 years after a judge said he had subjected a string of victims to "a storm of violence".

Marc McKillop put a belt round the neck of one woman and restricted her breathing during another assault.

The victim told a court: "He strangled me with a belt." The woman said she had rowed with McKillop and he "flew off the handle"

She said she was left struggling for breath and when asked how long it went on for replied: "Long enough for me to see stars and think I was going to die."

McKillop (27) formerly of 91 New Street, Rothes, in Moray, was earlier convicted of a total of 21 charges at the end of a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The offences included rape, indecent assault, assault to permanent disfigurement, assault to the danger of life and attempted murder. He was acquitted of a further rape charge on a not proven verdict.

The crimes were committed against a series of woman between 2006 and this year at addresses in Moray and Aberdeen.

Lady Scott told him he had been found guilty of "a sustained and serious course of violent conduct against six young women over a period of about seven years".

The judge said she was in no doubt from the appalling course of conduct that McKillop posed a risk of serious harm to women.

She said that because of the risk he posed and to protect the public she would order that for a further three year period he should be under supervision.

The judge warned that during that time he would be on licence and a breach of its conditions may lead to his return to jail

Lady Scott also told McKillop that he would be placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

The judge said that his behaviour had left victims depressed and in some cases suicidal. She said they remained "profoundly effected" and are in the process of rebuilding their lives.

McKillop raped one woman during a trip to Aberdeen in 2007. She had earlier had consensual sex with him, but she said he later ignored her requests not to have further intercourse.

The 23-year-old said she had said "no" because she did not want to. But McKillop forced her legs apart and ignored her pleas to stop.

Several victims were grabbed by the neck by McKillop and one lost consciousness during such an attack. During the murder bid she was seized by the hair and pulled down a set of stairs.

One woman was poked in the eyes with his fingers and another had a pillow put over her head.

One victim said she was left with a scar after he assaulted her with a car key. She said: "He held my hand where I had the key and dug it into my chest."

She rejected defence claims of exaggeration and said: "I wouldn't have the scar there if it was pure exaggeration."

The woman, who was pregnant at the time, said he told her he could get rid of her baby he wanted.

McKillop, a painter, also rubbed a paint brush against the face of another woman who was pinned to the floor.

One woman branded him "a beast" during his earlier trial and said: "He should be standing here for a hell of a lot more charges than he is."

She said: "He damaged me so bad I had to go and see a psychiatrist, for God's sake."

McKillop denied rape and the serious assaults against the woman and told the court: "I wouldn't threaten to kill someone."

Advocate depute David Nicholson said he must be "the most unlucky man in Scotland" to have the string of women come to court and testify against him. McKillop agreed they had lied but a jury earlier convicted him of the catalogue of abuse.

Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson said: "He has a good work ethic and history."